TAP 406-019

Forms, Lack of Availability

Issue Statement:

Paper federal income tax forms and instructions are not easily available in most communities and taxpayers find it difficult to find copies.

Goal Statement:

Develop a method for individual taxpayers to acquire the needed paper forms to encourage timely and complete federal income tax filing.

Proposal:

Create a “Form 1040 check-off,” similar to that used for Presidential Election Campaign participation.  This “check off” should be placed near the top of the Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and could read simply:  “Check here if you would like to receive a 20xx Tax Booklet and Instructions.”  This data can then be incorporated into the mail file prepared for the following filing season Form 1040 package delivery.
 
Improve communication to taxpayers about the importance of ordering the tax forms and publications they need at the start of the filing season.  Recommended methods of communicating this key message are:

• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) news releases
• Featured postings on irs.gov
• Reminder postcards mailed to taxpayers
• Alerts in electronic tax software programs